Government

Canada is a federal State within the British Commonwealth.The country’s Head of State is Queen ElizabethⅡof the United Kingdom，who is represented by the Governor⁃General.Governmental powers are divided between the central federal government and the provincial governments.The nation is governed today under the Constitution of 1982，which includes all written documents such as the British North America Act of 1867，as well as unwritten conventions，which together form Canada’s political and legal foundation.

The Constitution is also notable for containing a Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.The Charter guarantees freedom of conscience and religion;freedom of thought，belief，opinion and expression;freedom of peaceful assembly，and freedom of association.It also guarantees citizens the right to vote and the right to take up residence in any province，as well as the rights of Canada’s Aboriginal people，including Indians，Inuit and Métis.

The Constitution provides for sharing of powers between the federal and provincial governments.It gives the federal government jurisdiction over defense and foreign policy，trade，transportation，communications，and Indian lands.The provincial governments are given authority over education，healthcare，civil rights，natural resources and other local matters.Jurisdiction over immigration and agriculture is divided between the federal and provincial governments.

Canada’s government is formed on the principle of parliamentary democracy，in which the head of the government is responsible to the people who express their will through parliamentary elections.